Watch: David Friedman takes oath as America’s ambassador to Israel

Bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman has been sworn in as the 20th U.S. envoy to Israel. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence administered the ceremony and said that Friedman was “literally were born for this job.”

David Friedman was sworn in on Wednesday night as the 20th U.S. envoy to Israel. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence administered the ceremony and welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision regarding Friedman’s appointment. “One of the clearest signs of the president's commitment to the state of Israel and to its people is in his choice of David Friedman as America's ambassador to Israel,” said Pence.

“The President of the United States of America is a lifelong friend of Israel and the Jewish people and under his leadership, if the world knows nothing else, the world will know this: America stands with Israel,” Pence continued. “David, you literally were born for this job. It is because of families like yours that the Jewish people are such a beautiful thread in the fabric of this nation.”

“President Trump has now called on you to represent our nation as the ambassador to our most cherished ally,” added Pence. “And this is a critical time for our two nations and our peoples. The challenges we face are many but our resolve to overcome them has never been stronger.”

Pence and Friedman Photo Credit: Reuters/Channel 2 News

Friedman took the oath of office with his hand on a copy of the Tanakh and a kippah on his head. “My thanks to President Trump for his courageous leadership, his friendship and his guidance,” Friedman said during his speech. “I am humbled by the trust he has placed in me and I will do everything that I can to justify his faith and confidence in my abilities. I’m very proud to say that my nomination represents the first time in American history that the U.S. ambassador to Israel was nominated by the president as early as the first day of his presidency. I was nominated on January 20th on Inauguration Day.”